Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to establish abattoirs in rural locations.

Ross Finnie: Those areas of rural Scotland producing prime stock are generally well served by abattoirs. For any areas which may be less well served, my department would be happy to consider viable proposals from commercial concerns for establishing such facilities under its capital and non-capital grant schemes.

Agriculture

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to increase the number of meat processing facilities so that livestock and carcasses do not have to be transported outwith Scotland for processing.

Ross Finnie: I agree that it would be desirable if more of our livestock were slaughtered and processed within Scotland and my department will consider as a priority any viable proposals to do so under its capital and non-capital grant schemes.

Agriculture

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage organic farming in the Highlands and Islands.

Ross Finnie: The Executive has taken a number of steps to encourage organic farming generally. These include significantly increased payment rates and hectarage limits for the Organic Aid Scheme; priority under the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department’s Marketing and Development Scheme for those involved in organic production, and the funding of the organic helpline operated by the Scottish Agricultural College.

  More specifically, applications are now being accepted for the department’s Processing and Marketing Scheme for the Highlands and Islands under the revised special transitional arrangements for the area.

  At the end of January 2001 there were 146 farmers/crofters from within the Highlands and Islands who have either participated, are currently participating or are awaiting approval into the scheme. This represents 22% of the Scottish total who have applied to join the scheme since its inception.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements and changes in the diagnosis of autism have occurred in each year since 1979, by what means and how GPs and other health officials were made aware of any such changes.

Malcolm Chisholm: The diagnosis of autism ultimately remains a clinical one, which may require input from a number of different disciplines.

  Initial results from the Borders Multi-Agency Service for Children with Autism provide evidence that autism can be detected earlier in life through earlier screening. This service involved health visitors screening children before the age of two years and resulted in a 50% increase in the number of cases of autistic spectrum disorder detected.

  Over the last decade, broadening the diagnostic criteria to encompass "autistic spectrum disorders" has become more common in Scotland.

  General practitioners take responsibility for their own learning needs as part of the process of lifelong learning and maintenance of clinical skills. We would expect all GPs to keep up to date with current thinking and practice in all clinical areas, including autism, as part of their continuing professional development.

Beef

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that no beef over 30 months old is entering the food chain and, if so, what the grounds are for this position.

Malcolm Chisholm: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that beef from over thirty month old animals may enter the food chain if it is from specialist herds registered under the Beef Assurance Scheme or from animals born, reared and slaughtered in one of 14 non-EU countries that are designated as low BSE risk.

  The over thirty month (OTM) rule, which keeps meat from cattle aged over 30 months at slaughter out of the food chain, is strictly enforced in licensed abattoirs by officials of the Meat Hygiene Service. The agency is keeping this under close scrutiny and high levels of compliance with the OTM rule have been found by the agency and local authorities who report on the position in unlicensed plants.

Beef

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers meat hygiene inspectors and Food Standards Agency officials have to demand documentation proving the age of beef carcasses, imported or otherwise, from meat cutting plants.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Food Standards Agency advises that the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 (as amended) provide powers for enforcement officers to ensure that meat intended for human consumption, imported or otherwise, has been derived either from cattle from a low-risk BSE country or from cattle no more than thirty months old at slaughter, unless specifically exempted under the Beef Assurance Scheme. In addition, all meat from premises licensed under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 must be accompanied by the appropriate health mark indicating that the meat has been subject to official veterinary controls and is therefore fit for human consumption.

Beef

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the labelling procedures and the traceability of beef imported into Scotland and, if so, what the grounds are for this position.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Food Standards Agency advises that although recent EU legislation provides for some elements of compulsory beef labelling, the agency continues to attach great importance to clear and unambiguous country of origin labelling for all meat and meat products and is pressing the Commission and others on this.

  Effective systems are in plan to provide assurance about the source of meat being imported into the UK. In terms of traceability, all beef entering the UK from other member states will have been subject to a veterinary inspection there and health-marked in accordance with EU legislation.

  Under EU trade agreements with individual third countries, meat can only be exported into the EU from specific Commission-approved plants. Each consignment of meat imported to the UK is therefore subject to a document inspection at designated Border Inspection Points (BIPs) to ensure that the meat is properly health-marked and comes from an approved plant. Daily enforcement of these standards is provided by the veterinary services of that state and overseen by the Commission.

Beef

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to transfer the responsibility for meat inspections from the Meat Hygiene Service to slaughterhouse operators utilising their own employees and what consequences any such change will have for jobs and food safety.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Food Standards Agency advises that there are no plans to transfer responsibility for meat inspection from the Meat Hygiene Service to slaughterhouse operators.

Biodiversity

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what information has been collated on the current economic circumstances of the farmers who will be affected by the Knapdale Forest European Beaver re-introduction trial.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I understand that Scottish Natural Heritage has not collated information on the current economic circumstances of the farmers adjacent to the area at Knapdale they propose for a trial re-introduction of the European beaver.

Biodiversity

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any research into the success or otherwise of beaver re-introduction schemes in other European Union countries such as Austria, Germany or Switzerland and, if so, whether any of the research is relevant to the Knapdale environment.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive has not carried out research into beaver re-introductions in other EU countries. I understand that Scottish Natural Heritage can provide details of all relevant research including work to consider specific aspects of the impact of beavers on their environment.

Biodiversity

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage will be able to provide financial compensation to farmers for damage to their income or land resulting from the reintroduction of beavers to the Knapdale Forest and, if so, what criteria will have to be met to trigger such payments.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The trial re-introduction of beavers proposed by Scottish Natural Heritage is planned for Forest Enterprise land, on part of Knapdale Forest in Mid Argyll. I understand that Scottish Natural Heritage believes that farmers are unlikely to be adversely affected by the trial. Scottish Natural Heritage intend, however, to offer financial compensation and positive management agreements where economic damage is proved.

Biodiversity

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the re-introduction of wolves into the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive has no plans to re-introduce wolves into Scotland.

Biodiversity

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to secure the future of the otter, pine marten and wildcat populations in the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Otters

  A Biodiversity Action Plan has been developed to conserve and enhance the otter throughout the UK. In Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) provides advice on measures to conserve otter populations. An updated version of SNH’s "Otters and Development" booklet is in production and will be available soon, and consideration is being given to undertaking a fourth otter survey of Scotland.

  The otter is also listed in Annex II of the EC Habitats Directive, which requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). As a result, 41 sites have been proposed in Scotland as Special Areas of Conservation for otter. Most of these sites are located in the Highlands and Islands. This means that appropriate steps must be taken to avoid deterioration of the habitats or significant disturbance of the species.

  Pine martens

  I understand that SNH is promoting management practices for the conservation of pine martens. These include the expansion of native woodland, provision of advice on resolving issues involving pine martens occupying buildings, advice on the design of artificial breeding boxes and the promotion of non-lethal solutions to conflicts between pine martens and game-rearing interests.

  Wildcats

  I understand that SNH, in collaboration with other key stakeholders, is currently developing an action plan and strategy for conservation of the species in Scotland.

Birds

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it applies current legislation on the control of seagulls in urban environments.

Mr Sam Galbraith: It is for local authorities to take appropriate measures to control seagulls should this become necessary. Councils have full discretionary powers to do so. Licences are issued by the Scottish Executive to cover situations where lethal control is the only satisfactory solution available.

Birds

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place a statutory duty on local authorities to control seagulls in urban environments.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Local authorities already have full discretionary powers to control seagulls where necessary. The Executive has no plans to impose a statutory duty on councils.

Child Protection

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that all computers within schools with access to the internet are fully equipped with filtering or blocking software and what funding it has made available for this purpose.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has issued an information pack, "ClickThinking – Personal Safety on the Internet", to all Scottish education authorities and schools. The pack includes policy guidelines and background information for local authorities to help them to develop strategies for safe internet access in schools. Technical solutions are an important element of such strategies. The NGfL programme of the Excellence Fund can be used to pay for filtering and blocking software or services.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider recognising Citizens Advice Bureaux as official training providers and ensuring they are recompensed for the training and qualifications provided for volunteers in addition to any New Deal arrangements.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The enterprise networks are responsible for procurement and contracting for the national training programmes. The Scottish Executive does not recognise training providers directly.

Council Tax

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will require local authorities to change local tax collecting arrangements so that council tenants pay their rent and council tax together.

Peter Peacock: We have no such plans at present. However, we will consider carefully any recommendations from the "It Pays to Pay" Working Group, which we have established to look at options for improving council tax collection. The group includes representatives from local authorities and consumer organisations and other relevant interests.

Crime

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce crime in isolated rural communities.

Iain Gray: We are supporting a number of initiatives aimed at addressing crime and fear of crime in rural areas. Examples of some of the measures we are taking are: promoting, with ACPOS and COSLA, our joint community safety strategy which encourages community safety partnerships established in all Scottish councils to respond effectively to rural as well as urban crime problems; providing tangible funding to support the partnerships - £3 million in 2001-02 for urban and rural areas through the CCTV and Community Safety Challenge Competitions; the development of a strategy to address domestic abuse in Scotland which recognises the particular problems faced by women living in rural areas, with £5 million funding in 2001-02 to agencies to improve the service provision to women and children experiencing domestic abuse across the whole of Scotland and to improve prevention strategies. Action to reduce crime across Scotland depends on police forces being adequately funded and our plans provide for an additional £166 million current expenditure by police authorities over the next three years. It is for chief constables, in consultation with their authorities, to determine how their resources are used within authority areas.

Crown Estates

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what rights the Crown Estates have with regard to (a) salmon fisheries, (b) trout fisheries and (c) any other fisheries.

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what crown rights are held and operated by the Crown Estates with regard to fishing.

Rhona Brankin: I am advised that the Crown Estate has around 170 let river fishings, and owns 50 coastal netting stations, six of which are let but only one of which is currently operated. It also owns, through acquisition, other salmon fishing rights within the boundaries of its five agricultural estates, of which the main ones are in Morayshire and Dumfriesshire.

  As is the case with all owners of salmon fishing rights, the Crown Estate’s ownership of salmon fishing rights carry with them the lesser rights of fishing for freshwater fish, which include the rights to fish for trout. On the agricultural estates, the Crown Estate also has riparian rights to trout fishing, which are a pertinent of the land.

  Similarly, by virtue of riparian ownership, the Crown Estate has rights to other freshwater (i.e. coarse) fishing on its estates. It has no interest in freshwater fish farms. In relation to marine fish farms, the Crown Estate’s rights stem from ownership of the relevant foreshore and/or seabed.

Crown Estates

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from anglers, angling associations and others regarding the powers and stewardship of the Crown Estate Commissioners in relation to fisheries.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has received no such representations.

Drug Misuse

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific steps have been taken, in conjunction with HM Customs and Excise, to reduce the smuggling of illicit drugs into the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for the relevant police forces in partnership with HM Customs and Excise Law Enforcement Directorate, the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency and the National Criminal Intelligence Service.

Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown, by local authority area, of the expenditure on the National Grid for Learning (NGfL) and what progress is being made towards the NGfL’s targets.

Nicol Stephen: Support provided by the Scottish Executive to each local authority for development of the National Grid for Learning is shown in the following table:

  


Education Authority 
  

Financial Allocations (£) 
  






1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  

2001-02 
  



All Scotland 
  

24,600,000 
  

31,400,000 
  

23,600,000 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

874,672 
  

1,112,213 
  

843,545 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

1,203,124 
  

1,533,415 
  

1,157,935 
  



Angus 
  

552,901 
  

702,540 
  

523,297 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

439,557 
  

562,434 
  

422,802 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

239,267 
  

310,544 
  

234,088 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

740,820 
  

943,427 
  

704,668 
  



Dundee City 
  

687,732 
  

868,824 
  

652,823 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

628,595 
  

797,491 
  

602,664 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

645,516 
  

817,237 
  

604,275 
  



East Lothian 
  

408,310 
  

543,656 
  

410,264 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

524,620 
  

671,014 
  

494,726 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

1,610,702 
  

2,085,034 
  

1,579,498 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

148,516 
  

182,388 
  

137,904 
  



Falkirk 
  

681,401 
  

879,070 
  

664,748 
  



Fife 
  

1,753,827 
  

2,236,037 
  

1,669,009 
  



Glasgow City 
  

2,405,824 
  

3,128,514 
  

2,388,392 
  



Highland 
  

1,123,605 
  

1,421,687 
  

1,061,448 
  



Inverclyde 
  

441,572 
  

557,083 
  

418,279 
  



Midlothian 
  

423,406 
  

545,883 
  

407,716 
  



Moray 
  

449,991 
  

573,920 
  

434,632 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

709,307 
  

903,182 
  

680,153 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

1,743,447 
  

2,198,618 
  

1,647,171 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

106,719 
  

134,020 
  

100,078 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

603,936 
  

775,688 
  

584,580 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

901,054 
  

1,147,290 
  

855,134 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

515,192 
  

656,047 
  

492,746 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

126,519 
  

162,170 
  

121,341 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

581,216 
  

725,600 
  

538,723 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

1,569,118 
  

1,985,168 
  

1,487,795 
  



Stirling 
  

419,697 
  

533,867 
  

393,055 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

521,544 
  

655,749 
  

490,058 
  



West Lothian 
  

818,292 
  

1,050,189 
  

796,453 
  



  Local authorities’ July 2000 predictions of provision at end-September 2000 are shown in the following table:

  


Education Authority 
  

Primary school 
e-mail addresses 
  

Secondary school e-mail addresses 
  

Internet Access 
  






Staff
(%) 
  

Pupils
(%) 
  

Staff
(%) 
  

Pupils
(%) 
  

Primary schools
(%) 
  

Secondary schools
(%) 
  



All Scotland 
  

47 
  

29 
  

79 
  

66 
  

81 
  

100 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

37 
  

0 
  

23 
  

0 
  

100 
  

100 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

65 
  

25 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



Angus 
  

49 
  

50 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

13 
  

4 
  

100 
  

13 
  

88 
  

100 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

100 
  

51 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

4 
  

2 
  

100 
  

100 
  

9 
  

100 
  



Dundee City 
  

50 
  

50 
  

50 
  

40 
  

100 
  

100 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

38 
  

3 
  

29 
  

1 
  

100 
  

100 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  

100 
  



East Lothian 
  

49 
  

12 
  

51 
  

6 
  

100 
  

100 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

100 
  

28 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

69 
  

67 
  

77 
  

78 
  

100 
  

100 
  



Falkirk 
  

6 
  

0 
  

100 
  

31 
  

100 
  

100 
  



Fife 
  

9 
  

0 
  

8 
  

8 
  

100 
  

100 
  



Glasgow City 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



Highland 
  

100 
  

0 
  

100 
  

11 
  

57 
  

100 
  



Inverclyde 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  

100 
  

6 
  

100 
  



Midlothian 
  

100 
  

29 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



Moray 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

19 
  

1 
  

100 
  

44 
  

100 
  

100 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

14 
  

16 
  

100 
  

100 
  

15 
  

100 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

54 
  

46 
  

100 
  

100 
  

50 
  

100 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

12 
  

13 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

37 
  

100 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

61 
  

53 
  

62 
  

57 
  

72 
  

100 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

66 
  

0 
  

100 
  

23 
  

100 
  

100 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

0 
  

0 
  

100 
  

100 
  

27 
  

100 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

16 
  

13 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



Stirling 
  

13 
  

1 
  

50 
  

21 
  

98 
  

100 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

6 
  

0 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



West Lothian 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100

Enterprise

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or will make to Her Majesty’s Government in relation to the potential impact on the local economy of any decline in Ministry of Defence orders placed with the Defence Diversification Agency at Rosyth and what the outcome of any such representations has been to date.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with HM Government on a wide range of issues, including Ministry of Defence activities in Scotland. The Scottish Executive is currently working with the Defence Diversification Agency to achieve the shared aim of encouraging the widest exploitation of defence-derived technology within Scottish industry.

Enterprise

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase inward investment in the Western Isles.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Locate in Scotland promotes the whole of Scotland as a location for inward investment.

  However, in recognition of the particular difficulties which rural areas face in attracting inward investment, Locate in Scotland established its Rural Inward Investment Team in the latter half of 1998. The Rural Investment team works closely with Scottish Enterprise, the Local Enterprise Companies and Highlands & Islands Enterprise in order to highlight to investors the many benefits that rural Scotland has to offer.

Enterprise

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote internet working from home in the Highlands and Islands.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Internet working from home is already technically possible in the Highlands and Islands, as it is across the whole of Scotland.

Enterprise

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific support it will give to stimulate the rural economy of the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The Scottish Executive declared its commitment to supporting rural economic development as a key priority with the publication in May 2000 of Rural Scotland: A New Approach . The particular opportunities and challenges facing rural Scotland were also fully recognised in The Way Forward: A Framework for Economic Development in Scotland, published in June 2000. The recent strategy for enterprise, A Smart, Successful Scotland , which provides a clear sense of direction and priorities for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, sets the foundation for successful and sustainable economic development across Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands.

  Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and their networks of local enterprise companies are the Executive’s main agencies for the promotion of economic development in rural areas, and are committed to pursuing a wide range of activities for this purpose, including the exploitation of advances in information and communications technology, support for business formation, development, and diversification, the encouragement of commercial application of scientific and technological research, enhancing learning and training opportunities, specific initiatives targeted upon the development of key sectors such as food and drink, forestry and tourism, and through ensuring that there is an adequate supply of sites and premises for business purposes.

  The Scottish Executive is also committed to providing substantial support for traditional rural industries such as agriculture, fisheries, fish farming and crofting and to the improvement of rural transport through investment in infrastructure projects such as the Eriskay causeway. Specific initiatives such as Initiative at the Edge and the establishment of the Scottish Land Fund are aimed at promoting the development of remote and rural communities and facilitating social and economic development through community ownership and development of land.

Enterprise

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking in conjunction with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, local authorities and other agencies to attract new manufacturing and service industries to the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: Through its agency Locate in Scotland, the Scottish Executive promotes the whole of Scotland as a location for inward investment. Any attempt to steer companies to particular areas would almost certainly be counter-productive, resulting in the loss of projects to Scotland.

  However, in recognition of the particular difficulties which rural areas face in attracting inward investment, Locate in Scotland established its Rural Inward Investment Team in the latter half of 1998. The Rural Investment team works closely with Highlands and Island Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, the Local Enterprise Companies, local authorities and other local agencies in order to highlight to investors the many benefits that rural Scotland has to offer.

Environment

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether details of the environmental monitoring programme undertaken by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency into the impact of testing depleted uranium shells in the Solway Firth have been made available to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and whether such details have been, or will be, made publicly available.

Mr Sam Galbraith: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Environment

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what ongoing involvement the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has in relation to the environmental monitoring programme conducted by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency into the impact of depleted uranium shells in the Solway Firth.

Mr Sam Galbraith: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Environment

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for collating baseline data on the health of the marine environment and radioactivity levels in the Solway Firth and how often this data is updated and reviewed.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department commissions Fisheries Research Services (FRS) to conduct routine and specific monitoring around the Scottish coast. One of the 18 Scottish stations in the National Monitoring Programme (NMP) is located off the Kirkcudbright coast.   Within the NMP, measurements of water column chemistry, sediment chemistry and biology and of contaminant levels in fish are made annually, and the results for the period 1999 to 2001 are scheduled to be published in 2002. The results of similar measurements taken in a scoping exercise are contained in a report available through the FRS website (http://www.marlab.ac.uk/NMPR/SNMP/SNMP.htm). Arrangements are being made for copies of the report to be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

  In addition the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) undertakes a programme of environmental monitoring for radioactivity linked to authorised liquid and gaseous discharges of radioactive waste to the environment. Extensive monitoring under this programme is carried out in the Solway Firth. The data is updated and reviewed annually, and published in the joint SEPA/Food Standards Agency publication Radioactivity in Food and the Environment. Copies of the latest report are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Environment

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice has been given by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to the Ministry of Defence on the test firing of depleted uranium shells at Dundrennan in Kirkcudbrightshire.

Mr Sam Galbraith: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Environment

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has any legal obligations and powers in relation to the test firing of depleted uranium shells at Dundrennan in Kirkcudbrightshire.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Ministry of Defence has crown immunity from regulation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) therefore has no legal obligation or powers to regulate any activity in relation to the test firing of depleted uranium shells at Dundrennan in Kirkcudbrightshire.

Fisheries

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what scientific recommendations the cod recovery plan was based.

Rhona Brankin: The International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), the scientific body which advises European Community fisheries managers, identified the need to establish cod recovery plans in their most recent advice. Two cod recovery plans have been established, in the North Sea and in waters to the West of Scotland. These initial measures are aimed at protecting spawning cod congregations. Further technical measures are currently being developed by the European Community in consultation with the fishing industry.

Fisheries

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research is being undertaken into the catching and marketing of fish species of the northern waters which are as yet unharvested.

Rhona Brankin: The bulk of research effort is directed towards commercially exploited species. However, exploratory surveys are undertaken annually and all species caught, including those not currently harvested, are routinely recorded.

  Market research is undertaken on emerging fisheries. For example, the Seafish Industry Authority is currently engaged in an economic feasibility study of deep waters species for the Scottish Fish Processors Action Group.

Fuel Poverty

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of private rented households live in fuel poverty.

Jackie Baillie: We estimate from the 1996 Scottish House Condition Survey that 47% of households in the private rented sector are in fuel poverty. Further information will be available when the results of the 2002 survey are published.

Fuel Poverty

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of low-income households in the private rented sector applied for Warm Deal grants in the last year.

Jackie Baillie: There is no estimate of the number of households in the private rented sector who are eligible for the Warm Deal. In the 12 months to 30 June 2000, the first full year of the scheme, 697 grants went to households in the private sector. This represents 2.9% of all Warm Deal grants awarded during the period.

Fuel Poverty

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10048 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 5 October 2000, how many pensioners live in private accommodation; how many private rented sector houses will benefit from the central heating initiative, and what percentage of households living in private rented accommodation will still be living in fuel poverty after the initiative has been implemented.

Jackie Baillie: There is insufficient data to estimate how many pensioners live in private accommodation. We estimate from the results of the 1996 Scottish House Condition Survey that about 8,000 pensioner households in the private rented sector will benefit from the central heating initiative. There is insufficient data to estimate the percentage of households in private rented accommodation who will continue to be in fuel poverty after the central heating initiative is implemented. Further information will be available following publication of the results of 2002 survey.

Gaelic

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Perth and Kinross Council with regard to the council’s proposals to cut Gaelic-medium education as part of its planned financial savings.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: No. This is a matter for the local authority concerned.

Gaelic

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Gaelic-medium primary units or schools exist and what special funding it makes available for these.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: There are 60 Gaelic-medium primary schools. Funding from the Specific Grant Scheme for Gaelic education is £2,634,000, increasing to £2,834,000 for the financial year 2001-02.

Gaelic

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the current academic year applied for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education course to teach in Gaelic-medium schools and how many of these have been accepted.

Mr Jack McConnell: In session 2000-01, 17 Gaelic speakers applied to undertake a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) course (14 primary and three secondary). 12 applicants were accepted (nine primary and three secondary). One of those accepted for entry to the PGCE primary course subsequently declined the offer of a place. There are 11 students currently on a PGCE course (eight primary and three secondary) who may qualify as Gaelic-medium teachers.

Health

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what health measures it will take to reduce the mortality rate in Eilean Siar to the Scottish average.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is dedicated to improving the health of all Scots and, in particular, to tackling health inequalities . Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change , published on 14 December 2000, sets out fully the policy framework which provides the focus for our work to tackle the root causes of ill health. Implementation of these policies at local level will lead to improvements in health with consequent improvements in mortality rates throughout the country.

  The Scottish Executive has recognised the greater need for expenditure on health care in Eilean Siar in implementing the recommendations of Fair Shares for All (the Arbuthnott Report). This means that Western Isles Health Board will receive in 2001-02 an increase of 9% in its allocation for hospital and community health services, compared with an average increase of 6.5%.

Health

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures the NHSiS has in place to rectify any overpayments the Common Services Agency has made to pharmacists for prescription costs.

Susan Deacon: Pharmacy contractors receive a monthly advance payment in respect of fees and reimbursement of drug costs. This is reconciled, normally in the following month, once all prescriptions are priced and either any shortfall in payment is made good or any overpayment is recovered. Any current overpayment to contractors will be recovered as soon as the pricing of the prescriptions to which it relates is completed.

Health

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is sure that patient care has not been affected by the Common Service Agency’s recent computer problems.

Susan Deacon: Patient care has not been affected.

Health

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the budgets of the 14 Primary Care Trusts will be affected by any overpayment by the Common Services Agency of prescription costs to pharmacists.

Susan Deacon: The budgets of Primary Care Trusts and Island Health Boards routinely carry the costs of the advance payments made to pharmacy contractors each month. These are reconciled in subsequent months and either extra payments are made to contractors to make good the total amount due or recovery in respect of any overpayments made. The budgets of the 14 Primary Care Trusts and the Island Health Boards will not be affected by any initial overpayments as these are temporary and recovery will be made once the precise amount due to be paid has been calculated.

Health

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 14 Primary Care Trusts will be required to cover the costs of any overpayment of pharmacists by the Common Services Agency.

Susan Deacon: No.

Health

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is currently a backlog of six million unprocessed prescription payments by the Common Services Agency.

Susan Deacon: On average 3.25 million prescription forms are processed each month in Scotland. There is a processing backlog of approximately 6.5 million forms.

Health

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is currently a shortage of generic drugs and, if so, whether this has contributed to any backlog in processing prescription payments by the Common Services Agency.

Susan Deacon: Currently, there are no significant supply issues for generic drugs. Shortages of generic drugs during 1999-2000 resulted in considerable additional processing effort becoming necessary to price prescriptions. This created delays in processing prescriptions across the United Kingdom.

Higher Education

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding arrangements are in place for Argyll College in the financial year 2001-02.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Funding for the development of further education in Argyll in financial year 2001-02 will be directed through Lews Castle College, in its capacity as the chosen partner college of Argyll College, as part of the grant-in-aid allocated by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

Highlands and Islands

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to diversify the economy of the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-13664 on 12 March 2001.

Highlands and Islands

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what potential it sees for precious mineral extraction in the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Sam Galbraith: A variety of precious minerals is found in the Highlands and Islands. It is for those involved in minerals prospecting and extraction to establish whether there are reserves which at some future date could be worked economically.

Holyrood Project

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the management of Holyrood Park has to give notice of road closures in the park and what the reasons are for this position.

Allan Wilson: I have asked Graeme Munro, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  Holyrood Park is a Royal Park managed on behalf of the Scottish ministers by Historic Scotland. Historic Scotland normally aim to provide one week’s notice of forthcoming road closures to local radio stations, emergency services, the City of Edinburgh Council and motorists’ organisations. Occasionally, roads are closed at short notice for emergencies.

  The roads within the park are classed as Crown roads and are not formally part of the local public road network. The Holyrood Park Regulations grant powers of closure to the Royal Parks Constabulary.

  Because the Parliament development will close the east end of Holyrood Road, with traffic being diverted through the park, Historic Scotland and the City Council are currently discussing an agreement which will govern future road closures in the park.

Holyrood Project

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it expects the roadworks related to the construction of the Holyrood Parliament building to cost.

Allan Wilson: The road works related to the construction of the Holyrood Parliament fall into two categories. The first involves the upgrading of the roads in Holyrood Park around the Parliament site to carry the traffic which will be displaced by the closure of the eastern end of Holyrood Road. This work, which is now under way, is being funded through Historic Scotland, the managers of Holyrood Park, at an estimated cost of £1.420 million inclusive of fees and VAT.

  The second area of road works involves traffic calming measures to Horse Wynd and Reid’s Close. This work is being funded by the Scottish Executive through the City of Edinburgh Council, who are responsible for the roads outwith the park and is at detailed design stage. There will be further discussions with the council about the cost of these works.

Homelessness

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of its recent report  An Evaluation of the Empty Homes Initiative , it will reallocate money earmarked for the Empty Homes Initiative in this coming financial year to alternative measures to tackle homelessness.

Ms Margaret Curran: Funds earmarked for the Empty Homes Initiative in this coming financial year have already been allocated to local authorities and there is currently no scope to reallocate these funds. However, we will be monitoring progress during the year.

  In terms of making funding available to tackle homelessness, we have increased the funding for the Rough Sleepers Initiative (RSI) for the five years from 1997-2002 to £42 million. In addition to this, over the next three years we have backed the legislative proposals on homelessness with £27 million and made a further £12.5 million available to decommission Glasgow’s large hostels.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties in Scotland have been purchased for social renting under the Empty Homes Initiative, broken down by local authority area.

Ms Margaret Curran: The table shows the number of properties the Empty Homes Initiative has helped bring back into use for social rent to date since its inception in 1997, broken down by local authority area. The table excludes 86 properties the initiative has brought back into use for Low Cost Home Ownership.

  


Local Authority 
  

Properties Provided for social rent 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

0 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

19 
  



Angus 
  

6 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

3 
  



City of Edinburgh 
  

101 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

0 
  



Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar 
  

6 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

5 
  



Dundee City 
  

0 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

7 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

0 
  



East Lothian 
  

5 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

3 
  



Falkirk 
  

56 
  



Fife 
  

4 
  



Glasgow 
  

176 
  



Highland 
  

47 
  



Inverclyde 
  

0 
  



Midlothian 
  

0 
  



Moray 
  

10 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

8 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

25 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

0 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

0 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

0 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

50 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

13 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

0 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

2 
  



Stirling 
  

10 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

12 
  



West Lothian 
  

67 
  



Total 
  

635

Hospitals

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of patients in Scottish hospitals in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 were accommodated in mixed sex wards.

Susan Deacon: The information is not available in the form requested. However, the results of a survey carried out in 1999 for the Working Group of NHS staff and patient representatives considering Mixed Sex Accommodation has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. A review of the progress to date is currently being conducted.

Hospitals

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many health boards have eliminated mixed sex wards.

Susan Deacon: A review of progress towards the elimination of mixed sex wards by April 2002 is currently being conducted. Additional funding of £4.8 million has been allocated to the NHS in Scotland to assist them in achieving this objective.

Hospitals

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will define the term "mixed sex ward".

Susan Deacon: Guidance on the definition of the term "mixed sex ward" is contained in the 1999 report of a Working Group of NHS staff and patient representatives. Following further consultation with the Mental Welfare Commission, SHAS and user groups, further amplification of this guidance was issued in August 2000 with the letter notifying NHS Boards and Trusts of their allocation from the £4.8 million of funding made available to ensure that mixed sex accommodation is eliminated by April 2002. Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it has allocated to the Empty Homes Initiative to date and how much of this has been spent, broken down by local authority area.

Ms Margaret Curran: The table shows how much money has been allocated to local authorities for projects under the Empty Homes Initiative to 31 March 2002 and how much of this had been drawn down as at 31 January 2001, broken down by local authority area.

  


Local Authority 
  

Award
(£) 
  

Grant Draw Down
(£) 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

561,610 
  

30,093 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

815,066 
  

702,107 
  



Angus 
  

374,000 
  

164,497 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

354,702 
  

41,301 
  



City of Edinburgh 
  

3,107,030 
  

1,698,864 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

179,702 
  

- 
  



Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar 
  

273,151 
  

253,195 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

285,000 
  

170,105 
  



Dundee City 
  

376,527 
  

30,027 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

856,120 
  

224,640 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

36,302 
  

36,302 
  



East Lothian 
  

102,000 
  

22,759 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

77,092 
  

77,092 
  



Falkirk 
  

841,250 
  

532,149 
  



Fife 
  

916,842 
  

346,341 
  



Glasgow 
  

5,000,796 
  

3,450,049 
  



Highland 
  

1,220,081 
  

918,909 
  



Inverclyde 
  

346,421 
  

21,174 
  



Moray 
  

484,500 
  

224,650 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

141,300 
  

141,300 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

1,377,220 
  

871,027 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

36,000 
  

14,384 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

208,775 
  

20,000 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

291,109 
  

203,024 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

1,352,632 
  

1,003,449 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

307,800 
  

180,506 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

774,877 
  

528,053 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

668,470 
  

263,470 
  



Stirling 
  

740,000 
  

210,000 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

556,292 
  

380,722 
  



West Lothian 
  

1,380,000 
  

916,749 
  



Total 
  

24,042,667 
  

13,676,938

Housing

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how its Housing (Scotland) Bill will improve access to socially rented housing in the Highlands and Islands.

Jackie Baillie: The Housing (Scotland) Bill contains measures intended to:

  provide new and strengthened rights for homeless people needing accommodation, advice and assistance;

  provide a right to register on a housing list for every one over the age of 16;

  improve the quality and consistency of housing management including the allocation of housing;

  put in place enhanced strategic arrangements for local authorities to plan and fund housing requirements in their area.

  These and other measures contained in the Bill will benefit both rural and urban communities in all parts of Scotland. They are complementary to other policy initiatives, such as investment programmes to ensure that 20,000 new and improved homes are built across Scotland for affordable renting or low-cost home ownership over the three years 1999-2000 to 2001-02.

Housing

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to support mortgage rescue schemes.

Jackie Baillie: Mortgage rescue provides support to homeowners in mortgage difficulties and can help families to remain in their homes and avoid the negative effects of repossession. We are aware of a number of mortgage rescue schemes operating in Scotland with support from some of the major lenders. By building on their experience, we are keen to consider the merits of a national mortgage rescue or mortgage to rent scheme to extend the availability of such support throughout Scotland. We are working closely with lenders, housing associations and Scottish Homes in considering the detail of a possible national scheme and I hope to make further announcements in the coming months.

Income

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the per capita income in the Highlands and Islands to (a) Scottish and (b) UK levels and when each of these targets will be achieved.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The 1999 New Earnings Survey highlighted that average earnings in the Highlands & Islands are below those earned in Scotland and Great Britain. This reflects the traditional narrow base of the economy of the Highlands & Islands. The key thrust of the Scottish Executive to address this issue is the diversification of economic activity in the area through its agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

  During the year 1999-2000, 80% of the jobs created through inward investment were in the knowledge sector, contributing to the broadening of opportunity in the area. The quality of employment is an explicit element of Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s annual target framework, and the network has focused on bringing new opportunities to the fragile parts of the area, as evidenced in the attraction of the Stolt project to Harris in the Western Isles.

  These activities will all help diversify employment in the Highlands and Islands and raise average per capita income. An output of this diversifying business portfolio is to reduce the differential between Highland and Island and Scottish/UK per capita income. As per capita income is constantly changing, continually eroding the differential is a more robust measure than a specific target date.

Justice

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many warrant sales have been carried out on individuals in domestic residences by each local authority in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: Warrant sales are normally conducted in auction houses. They can only be carried out in domestic premises where the occupier thereof and, if he is not the occupier, the debtor gives consent in writing. No records are kept centrally of the number of occasions such consent is given.

Justice

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many poinding applications have been made by or on behalf of each local authority, in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: Poindings proceed on the authority of the extracted warrant. No applications for poinding are therefore made. The table sets out the number of poindings effected under the summary warrant procedure for Council Tax arrears and Community Tax arrears for the years 1995 to 1999 in Scotland, which are the latest available. The data collected does not specify the numbers of poindings effected by each local authority.

  





1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  



Council Tax 
  



Poindings effected 
  

5,115 
  

6,850 
  

12,046 
  

10,260 
  

10,029 
  



Community Charge 
  



Poindings effected 
  

2,193 
  

946 
  

916 
  

747 
  

587

Local Government

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be monitoring the progress of Camden Council’s online transaction service for business rates, council tax and parking fines to assess the utility of a similar system for local authorities in Scotland.

Peter Peacock: Through the Central Local Government 21st Century Forum, the Scottish Executive is encouraging local authorities to deliver electronically all services for which this is feasible by 2005. To promote progress towards this target, the Scottish Executive monitors developments like the Camden scheme both north and south of the border.

Medical Training

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12577 by Susan Deacon on 1 February 2001, how many clinical psychology training posts were provided from the £100,000 allocated to the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education.

Susan Deacon: The additional funding for clinical psychology training secured eight posts so that the output from the training programmes in Scotland over the next three years will be 32 clinical psychologists per year. Without the additional funding the output would have fallen back to the previous figure of 24 per year. Supported by the clinical psychology committee of the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (SCPMDE), work is under way to define the number and type of psychologists required to provide psychological services in NHSScotland in the most effective way.

Mink

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact mink are having on the flora and fauna of the Western Isles and the Western Highland seaboard and what steps are being taken to eliminate mink in these areas.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Feral mink are well established on Harris and Lewis and have also recently reached North Uist and Benbecula. Their most significant natural heritage impact affects ground nesting birds.

  The Scottish Executive is supporting Scottish Natural Heritage’s application for EU Life-Nature funding to assist with the first phase of a mink eradication programme for the Western Isles. If approved by the EU, this will start in 2001.

NHS Staff

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many neurologist posts there are in the NHSiS and how many of these are currently vacant, broken down by health board area in each case.

Susan Deacon: The latest information on the number of neurology staff in post by health board area is shown in the following table. The total number of consultants in this specialty has increased from 32 in 1997. The table should be read in conjunction with the notes below.

  As at 30 September 1999, there was a total of two vacant consultant posts in this specialty, one in Forth Valley Health Board and one in Greater Glasgow Health Board. These posts were both vacant for less than six months, reflecting normal turnover. Only consultant and staff grade vacancies are recorded.

  Neurology Staff in Post2 Employed in NHSScotland by Health Board and Grade

  Headcount as at 30 September 1999

  

 

Total 
  

Consultant 
  

Associate Specialist 
  

Specialist Registrar 
  

SHO 
  

Para 94 Appt. 
  



Scotland3


60 
  

37 
  

1 
  

12 
  

6 
  

5 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

1 
  

1 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

1 
  

1 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Fife 
  

3 
  

3 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Forth Valley 
  

2 
  

1 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

1 
  



Grampian 
  

7 
  

5 
  

- 
  

1 
  

- 
  

1 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

31 
  

17 
  

1 
  

7 
  

3 
  

3 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

2 
  

2 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Lothian 
  

15 
  

10 
  

- 
  

3 
  

2 
  

- 
  



Tayside 
  

7 
  

5 
  

- 
  

1 
  

1 
  

- 
  



  Notes:

  1. Source: Medical and Dental Census, ISD Scotland.

  2. Includes honorary appointments.

  3. The total for Scotland may not equal the sum of the health board areas, as the effect of double counting has been eliminated. For example, consultants working in more than one health board area will be counted for each health board, but will appear just once in the Scotland total.

New Deal

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will arrange to visit and assess the 44 private training providers which were not visited as part of its Study of the Full-Time Education and Training Option in Scottish Colleges and Private Training Providers.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.

  There are no plans to extend the study to the 44 private training providers.

  To build on the strengths identified in the Full-Time Education and Training (FTET) Report, three regional good practice dissemination events are being held in Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh this month to enable the expertise established by private training providers and FE colleges to be shared between New Deal specialist staff in both sectors.

  These will be workshop-led events. Each workshop has an identified theme which will maximise the opportunity to highlight good practice in key areas related to the New Deal programme.

Planning

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the former Lochside Distillery building in Montrose is a listed building and, if so, whether it will take action to preserve it.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I have asked Graeme Munro, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  The former Lochside Distillery building in Montrose is not a statutorily listed building. I understand that Angus Council have given consent for the building’s demolition as part of a redevelopment scheme for the site.

Planning

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been informed of the planning decision by Angus Council which will allow the demolition of the Lochside Distillery building in Montrose.

Mr Sam Galbraith: No.

Police

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the announcement on 21 February 2001 by Jack Straw of £10.6 million of additional funding to encourage regional police forces to apply the National Intelligence Model guidelines, what discussions it has had with police forces to ensure that they take advantage of the funding available.

Mr Jim Wallace: The announcement by the Home Secretary applies only to forces in England and Wales. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) has endorsed the National Intelligence Model (NIM) and an implementation team is considering the introduction of the model across the eight Scottish police forces and the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency. The decision to implement the NIM, which is connected to a new Scottish Intelligence Database, is an operational matter for chief constables. Last month, we announced an investment package of £8 million to take forward development work including that on a Scottish Intelligence Database.

Population

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reverse depopulation in the Western Isles.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The Executive is committed to tackling the causes of population decline through initiatives targeted at rural communities across Scotland. In the Western Isles, the Executive supports economic development through Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Western Isles Enterprise. The range of specific measures taken by the Executive in the Western Isles include: support for the latest IT infrastructure; support for new businesses, and improving rural transport with substantial spending on infrastructure projects such as the Eriskay causeway. Wider programmes, such as Iomairt aig an Oir (the Initiative at the Edge) and grants for community land purchase, are also boosting the local economy and creating jobs.

Population

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the anticipated 19.9% reduction in the population of Eilean Siar between 1998 and 2016, as detailed in the Registrar General for Scotland’s Annual Report for 1999, will have on the long-term economic, cultural and social viability of the islands.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The latest, 1998-based population projections produced by The Registrar General for Scotland, indicate that the population of the Western Isles will decline by 14.2% (3,960 people) over the period 1998 to 2016. Population projections provide an indication of future changes in population if assumptions about future levels of fertility, mortality and migration, based on past trends, are realised. These projections do not take into account potential economic or social changes which might impact on population decline or growth. As indicated in the answer given to question S1W-13645, the Scottish Executive is committed to addressing the causes of population decline in the Western Isles, together with local agencies and authorities, through a wide range of measures.

Public Transport

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities make an administration charge for the issuing of concessionary fare cards and what the level of any such charge is in each local authority area.

Sarah Boyack: The details, from the latest information we have available, are as follows:

  


Local Authority 
  

Concession Card Charge 
  



Aberdeen City Council 
  

£5 per annum 
  



Aberdeenshire Council
Moray Council
(Joint Scheme) 
  

£5 per annum 
  



Angus Council 
  

£2.50 for 5-year travel card 
  



City of Edinburgh Council
East Lothian Council
Midlothian Council
(Joint Scheme) 
  

Free of charge – 5-year travel card
Free of charge – 4-year travel card
Free of charge – 4-year travel card 
  



Clackmannanshire Council
Falkirk Council
Stirling Council
(Joint Scheme) 
  

Free of charge 
  



Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar 
  

£4 per annum 
  



Dumfries and Galloway Council 
  

Annual travel card - £10 (free travel)
or
5-year travel card - £2 (10p flat fare) 
  



Dundee City Council 
  

£1 for 3-year travel card 
  



Fife Council 
  

Free of charge – 5-year travel card 
  



Highland Council 
  

£3 for 5-year travel card 
  



Orkney Islands Council 
  

Free of charge 
  



Perth and Kinross Council 
  

£2.50 for 5-year travel card 
  



Scottish Borders Council 
  

£3 per annum 
  



Shetland Islands Council 
  

Free of charge - unlimited 
  



SPTA* 
  

Free of charge 
  



West Lothian Council 
  

Free of charge 
  



  * The scheme operated by the SPTA covers the whole of the following local authority areas:

  Argyll and Bute North Ayrshire

  East Ayrshire North Lanarkshire

  East Dunbartonshire Renfrewshire

  East Renfrewshire South Ayrshire

  City of Glasgow South Lanarkshire

  Inverclyde West Dunbartonshire

Public Transport

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed plans for a national concessionary fare scheme will lead to the abolition of administration charges for concessionary fare cards.

Sarah Boyack: I have opened discussions with COSLA on implementing the enhancement to existing concessionary travel schemes to provide free off-peak bus travel by October 2002. As part of those discussions I am also seeking to make progress on a number of other associated issues, including the potential for abolition of charges on concessionary travel cards, which apply in some local authorities but not in others.

Public/Private Partnerships

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what further steps it will be taking to assist local authorities develop Public/Private Partnerships (PPP) to rebuild and repair school buildings and, in particular, whether assistance will be available to them to bridge revenue gaps in PPP repayments.

Mr Jack McConnell: I have recently announced the allocation of £5 million amongst a number of authorities to take forward work on feasibility studies into possible further school Public/Private Partnership projects. We are currently giving consideration to the possibility of appropriate financial support for a stage beyond that where suitable projects have been identified. We shall make an announcement when that consideration has been completed.

Rural Development

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take in the light of the 2nd Report 2001 of the Rural Development Committee Impact of the Closure of the Islay Creamery .

Ross Finnie: The report raises a number of detailed issues relating to factors affecting rural and island communities across Scotland. The Executive is giving the report’s findings and recommendations careful consideration.

Schools

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs intends to visit Lockerbie Primary School and Lockerbie Academy when he is next in Dumfries and Galloway.

Mr Jack McConnell: I cannot, at this stage, give any commitment to visiting schools in Lockerbie, but I am considering the possibility of including them in a future programme of visits.

Science

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making regarding the development of a science strategy.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Scotland’s first integrated Science Strategy will be published soon.

Scottish Executive Accommodation

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what asbestos-related guidelines were in place in 1990 when the Scottish Office evacuated New St Andrews’ House on the grounds of the presence of asbestos.

Angus MacKay: The guidelines on asbestos current in 1990 were contained in the Department of the Environment Booklet (Asbestos Materials in Buildings) issued in Scotland under Scottish Development Department Circular No 32 in 1986.

  The asbestos present in New St Andrew’s House was stable at the time staff moved to Victoria Quay in 1995. The projected cost of the removal of asbestos from New St Andrew’s House was a factor in the decision to give up three central Edinburgh buildings (New St Andrew’s House, Brandon Street/Perth Street and Jeffrey Street) with staff moving to a new building at Victoria Quay.

Small Businesses

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage the formation, growth and survival of small businesses in the Highlands and Islands.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive recognises that the formation, growth and survival of small businesses is crucial to the economic success of the Highlands and Islands, and to Scotland as a whole. The way forward is set out in the publication A Smart, Successful Scotland – the first comprehensive statement by the Executive setting out the direction and priorities for the Enterprise Networks.

  The Scottish Executive is continuing to work closely with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to ensure easier access to public sector support for new and small businesses in the HIE area. A number of significant developments are in hand. For example, HIE will shortly be introducing HIE Starts, a flexible new programme which has support from the Highlands & Islands Transitional Programme; it will provide information, advice, training and financial assistance to small business starts that have the potential to contribute to the growth of the local economy.

  In addition, Inverness and Nairn Enterprise have developed The Greenhouse in Inverness which provides a range of office and laboratory incubator accommodation for technology based start-ups. The Outreach Incubator project complements The Greenhouse by providing support and guidance to technology start-ups throughout the Highlands and Islands.

  In addition to these programmes, which are specific to start-ups, new businesses can also access the wide range of business and skills development programmes delivered by the HIE Network.

Social Inclusion

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what areas it has identified in the Highlands and Islands as priority areas in addressing social exclusion.

Ms Margaret Curran: There are 48 Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs) in Scotland tackling social exclusion in priority areas and client groups. These include the Highlands & Islands SIP, which addresses social exclusion in young people across a number of priority areas, and the Argyll & Bute SIP, which addresses social exclusion on an area-based approach across a number of priority areas.

  The priority areas were selected by the SIPs. The Highlands & Islands SIP identified: Ormlie (Thurso); Westford/Milnafua (Alness); Merkinch (Inverness); Upper Fort William; Kinlochleven; Acharacle and the Initiative at the Edge Areas of North Sutherland; Ardnamurchan; Westray and Papa Westray in Orkney Islands; and Uig & Bernera, the Bays of Harris, Lochboisdale and Eriskay within the Western Isles. The Argyll & Bute SIP identified: Ardenslate; Ballochgoy; Dalintober; Kirkmichael, and Soroba.

  As well as the Highlands and Islands SIP and the Argyll & Bute SIP, we are also providing funding to the Lochaber Working for Communities Pathfinder which covers Acharacle, Mallaig, Kilchoan, Kinlochleven, Lochaline, Duror, Fort William and Invergarry and the Western Isles Working for Communities Pathfinder and we announced recently that Eilean Siar would receive £1.35 million over three years to develop better neighbourhood services, in areas to be selected by the local authority.

Social Inclusion

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to eliminate social exclusion in rural areas.

Ross Finnie: Through our Social Justice Strategy, we are already delivering a range of polices and programmes which are aimed at tackling and eliminating social exclusion throughout Scotland, in both rural and urban communities. We have acknowledged that we need to improve our understanding of rural social exclusion, and established the Rural Poverty and Inclusion Working Group to assist us in this task. I look forward to receiving the group’s report and recommendations shortly.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11597 by Jackie Baillie on 12 December 2000, who are the four MSPs who currently serve on the City of Glasgow Social Inclusion Partnership and on what boards they serve.

Ms Margaret Curran: The four MSPs who currently serve on Social Inclusion Partnership Boards in Glasgow are:

  


MSP 
  

Social Inclusion Partnership Board 
  



Patricia Ferguson 
  

North Glasgow 
  



Johann Lamont 
  

Greater Pollok 
  



Gordon Jackson QC 
  

Greater Govan 
  



Patricia McNeill 
  

Routes Out

Special Educational Needs

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to include an element of training on special educational needs as part of the core training requirements of new undergraduate teachers.

Mr Jack McConnell: Components within the core of courses of initial teacher education already consist, where appropriate, of inter-related units in special educational needs. Guidelines for initial teacher education in Scotland require teacher education institutions to prepare teachers to be responsive to the needs of all pupils in respect of special educational needs.

Special Educational Needs

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote the early detection of dyslexia and other similar conditions.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is providing over £5 million per year to local authorities for the development and training of classroom-based staff and trainee educational psychologists working with children with special educational needs, including dyslexia and other similar conditions. £1 million of this funding is directed towards early intervention, which addresses a wide variety of training requirements including accreditation such as the Certificate in Dyslexia.

  The Scottish Executive Education Department has worked jointly with the Scottish Dyslexia Trust to train teachers in dyslexia awareness and early identification. The Executive is currently funding the Trust to run a national seminar and to produce a report to highlight good practice and innovative approaches for teaching dyslexic pupils. This report will be issued to all education authorities in Scotland.

  In addition, the 3-5 Curriculum guidelines for pre-school education cover the key aspects of children’s development and learning. Differences in children’s progress, and any need for extra support, are noted through observation and careful assessment.

Telecommunications

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional private sector investment it will encourage in installing fibre optic cables in the Highlands and Islands.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is considering with the UK Government how best to extend broadband access as widely as possible, including the role of public sector procurement of broadband services in stimulating wider supply by the industry.

  The Executive recognises that in remoter parts of Scotland, including parts of the Highland & Islands, a different approach may be needed. In this context we welcome the work of the Highlands & Islands Partnership under the special Transitional Programme which is considering the need for Public/Private Partnerships to encourage investment in remoter areas.

Tourism

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12619 by Mr Alasdair Morrison on 1 February 2001, how much it will cost the Scottish Tourist Board to improve accessibility through search engines to the visitscotland.com website.

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12619 by Mr Alasdair Morrison on 1 February 2001, how much has been spent so far on developing the new look visitscotland.com website and what the total cost of the website will be on completion.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: I will ask the interim Chief Executive to write to you.

Tourism

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12622 by Mr Alasdair Morrison on 1 February 2001, whether it will provide details of the increased levels of financial support for the tourism industry being provided through the Scottish Tourist Board, in particular by how much such support is being increased.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: Financial support for STB/Visitscotland in 2000-01 is £25.9 million, which is a £6.6 million increase on the previous financial year.

Tourism

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list Scotland’s tourist information centres, indicating the area tourist board each is affiliated to.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The information is as follows:

  


Area Tourist Board 
  

TICs Operated 
  



Aberdeen & Grampian 
  

Aberdeen, Alford, Ballater, Banchory, Banff, Braemar, Crathie, 
  Dufftown, Elgin, Forres, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Inverurie, 
  Stonehaven, Tomintoul. 
  



Angus & Dundee 
  

Arbroath, Brechin, Carnoustie, Dundee, Forfar, Kirriemuir, 
  Montrose. 
  



Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond. Stirling & Trossachs 
  

Aberfoyle, Alva, Ardgartan, Balloch, Bo’ness, Callander, 
  Campbeltown, Craignure, Drymen, Dumbarton, Dunblane, Dunoon, 
  Falkirk, Helensburgh, Inveraray, Islay, Killin, Lochgilphead, 
  Oban, Rothesay, Stirling(Dumbarton Road), Stirling(M9/M80 
  Junction 9), Stirling (Royal Burgh of Stirling), Tarbert 
  (Loch Fyne), Tarbet (Loch Lomond), Tobermory, Tyndrum. 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

Ayr, Brodick, Girvan, Irvine, Largs, Millport. 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

Castle Douglas, Dumfries, Gatehouse of Fleet, Gretna Green, 
  Kirkcudbright, Moffat, Newton Stewart, Stranraer 
  



Edinburgh & Lothians 
  

Dunbar, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Airport, Linlithgow, Livingston 
  (due to open at Easter), Newtongrange, North Berwick, Old 
  Craighall (nr. Musselburgh), Penicuik. 
  



Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley 
  

Abington, Biggar, Glasgow, Glasgow Airport, Hamilton, Lanark, 
  Paisley. 
  



Highlands of Scotland 
  

Aviemore, Ballachulish, Bettyhill, Broadford, Daviot Wood, 
  Dornoch, Durness, Dunvegan, Fort Augustus, Fort William, 
  Gairloch, Glenshiel, Grantown-on-Spey, Helmsdale, Inverness, 
  John o’ Groats, Kilchoan, Kingussie, Kyle of Lochalsh, Lairg, 
  Lochcarron, Lochinver, Mallaig, Nairn, North Kessock, Portree, 
  Ralia, Spean Bridge, Strathpeffer, Strontian, Thurso, Uig, 
  Ullapool, Wick. 
  



Kingdom of Fife 
  

Anstruther, Crail, Dunfermline, Forth Bridges, Kirkcaldy, 
  St. Andrews. 
  



Orkney 
  

Kirkwall, Stromness. 
  



Perthshire 
  

Aberfeldy, Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Crieff, Dunkeld, 
  Kinross, Perth, Perth (Inveralmond), Pitlochry. 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

Coldstream, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso, 
  Melrose, Peebles, Selkirk. 
  



Shetland 
  

Lerwick 
  



Western Isles 
  

Castlebay, Lochboisdale, Lochmaddy, Tarbert, Stornoway.

Tourism

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken any action in response to the proposal to close Aberdeen’s tourist information centre.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: I was concerned to hear that Aberdeen and Grampian Tourist Board were contemplating closing the TIC in Aberdeen. However, Area Tourist Boards are independent organisations and are therefore responsible for their own operational decisions.

Tourism

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority gives to its local tourist board, in total and expressed as a per capita figure.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The latest available information about core funding is as follows:

  


Area Tourist Board 
  

Local Authority 
  

2000-01 (£) 
  

Per Capita (£) 
  



Aberdeen & Grampian 
  

Aberdeen City 
  

150,000 
  

0.71 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

300,000 
  

1.32 
  



Moray 
  

165,000 
  

1.94 
  



Angus & Dundee 
  

Angus 
  

158,000 
  

1.44 
  



Dundee City 
  

246,000 
  

1.70 
  



Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling & Trossachs 
  

Argyll & Bute 
  

170,000 
  

1.89 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

28,800 
  

0.59 
  



Falkirk 
  

57,000 
  

0.39 
  



Stirling 
  

235,400 
  

2.78 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

57,700 
  

0.61 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

East Ayrshire 
  

80,000 
  

0.66 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

158,300 
  

1.14 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

141,135 
  

1.24 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

Dumfries & Galloway 
  

350,000 
  

2.38 
  



Edinburgh & Lothians 
  

Edinburgh 
  

989,600 
  

2.19 
  



East Lothian 
  

200,000 
  

2.21 
  



West Lothian 
  

59,755 
  

0.39 
  



Midlothian 
  

35,000 
  

0.43 
  



Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley 
  

Glasgow 
  

1,908,000 
  

3.12 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

0 
  

- 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

0 
  

- 
  



Inverclyde 
  

0 
  

- 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

0 
  

- 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

73,300 
  

0.41 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

97,000 
  

0.32 
  



Highlands of Scotland 
  

Highland 
  

487,523 
  

2.34 
  



Kingdom of Fife 
  

Fife 
  

450,000 
  

1.29 
  



Orkney 
  

Orkney 
  

198,696 
  

10.14 
  



Perthshire 
  

Perthshire 
  

469,000 
  

3.50 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

Scottish Borders 
  

269,000 
  

2.53 
  



Shetland 
  

Shetland 
  

130,000 
  

5.72 
  



Western Isles 
  

Western Isles 
  

84,050 
  

3.05 
  



  Note: Per capita figures based on GRO mid-year population estimates of Scotland and its council areas, 1999.

Tourism

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of tourism is to the Scottish economy, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) tourist board area.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The information is not available in respect of local authority areas. For tourist board areas the information in respect of 1999, the last year available, is as follows:

  


Area Tourist Board 
  

Value (£ million) 
  



Aberdeen & Grampian 
  

204 
  



Angus and Dundee 
  

57 
  



Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling & Trossachs 
  

290 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

138 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

106 
  



Edinburgh & Lothians 
  

533 
  



Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley 
  

429 
  



Highlands of Scotland 
  

396 
  



Kingdom of Fife 
  

113 
  



Perthshire 
  

122 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

48 
  



Orkney, Shetland & Western Isles 
  

39 
  



Not Specified 
  

9 
  



  Sources: International Passenger Survey, UK Tourism Survey.

Tourism

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it consults with tourist businesses which are not members of their area tourist board and, if so, how.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: Yes. We consult with businesses through their representative organisations, either by correspondence or through meetings.

Tourism

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to attract both overseas and domestic tourists to the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The New Strategy for Scottish Tourism , which we published last February, includes actions that we believe will grow tourism in the Highlands and Islands. We have also increased the budget of visitscotland to a record level, which will enable it to increase its marketing effort both within the UK and overseas.

Training

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the announcement on 26 February 2001 by Ms Wendy Alexander of an additional £2.5 million to fund ICT training for the unemployed, what percentage of this and what amount will go to Dumfries and Galloway.

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive,  with regard to the announcement on 26 February 2001 by Ms Wendy Alexander of an additional £2.5 million to fund ICT training for the unemployed, how many places on ICT training schemes will be provided in Dumfries and Galloway.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway have identified an ambitious programme of activities under this initiative. Their activities will attract £212,500 in funding support from Scottish Enterprise (9.4% of the total) and are expected to deliver 215 European Computer Driving Licence qualifications leading directly to 85 jobs being secured by local people.